A former Douglas County judge did not respond by a Thursday deadline to a complaint that he had an affair with a prosecutor, meaning he faces a disciplinary judge for possible sanctions that could include disbarment.

According to the complaint, Douglas County Judge Grafton Biddle and prosecutor Laurie Steinman had an affair that lasted for months in 2006.

The complaint said that on several occasions they would take showers together at the courthouse and that kissing would be part of their “early morning rendezvous.”

On one occasion, according to the complaint filed with the Attorney Regulation Counsel of the Colorado Supreme Court, Biddle was naked when they met in the bathroom in his chambers.

The complaint also alleges that Steinman argued two cases while Biddle was the presiding judge.

Biddle did not respond to the complaint by Thursday, said John Gleason, head of the Attorney Regulation Counsel off the Colorado Supreme Court, which is investigating the matter.

“Essentially he has abandoned his right to answer the allegations,” Gleason said.

Today, the Attorney Regulation Counsel will file a motion for default that will trigger the disciplinary process, Gleason said.

Biddle, who resigned following the allegations, apparently has left the state. Steinman, who was fired from her job for the 18th Judicial District, has responded to the complaint.

Neither Biddle nor Steinman could be reached for comment Thursday. They face penalties ranging from public censure to disbarment.

Steinman is “no longer in the purview of the Colorado Judicial Branch,” said Rob McCallum, spokesman for the state court administrator’s office.

The case will now go before a disciplinary judge and then a sanctions hearing will be held, McCallum said.

Eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed Saturday afternoon at Georgetown due to a semitrailer fire, the Colorado Department of Transportation tweeted. The right lane remains closed, while the other lanes have since reopened. Drivers can expect heavy delays, transportation officials said. The fire initially closed both sides of the interstate as smoked crossed the highway. The load on the...